Blog from Martin Whelton,a Labour councillor for Pollards Hill on Merton Council and Cabinet member for Education. Details life in general, along with the trials and tribulations of life in politics and general dating back to March 2006.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Tories and lottery money spent on new Pollards Hill Library

Later on today, the new library in Pollards Hill will be opened by The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. This is despite the fact that the Greater London Authority has provided no funding at all for the library, clearly Boris seems to be spending his time opening facilties of which the GLA have no link with and has made no financial contribution at all. As local Pollards Hill councillors', Richard Williams and myself have issued a press release pointing out the hypocrisy of the Conservative administration in Merton, and the policy of the Conservatives nationally in criticizing lottery money being spent on libraries.

Tories: lottery money spent on new Pollards Hill Library was theft

On the day that the new Pollards Hill Library is officially opened local Councillors have been drawing attention to the fact that under a Conservative Government, the lottery money to rebuild the library would not have been available. National Tory policy is that lottery money spent on libraries is 'lottery larceny' and they would change the law to stop it happening.

Pollards Hill Labour Councillor Richard Williams commented:

'Having a new library is something to celebrate but seeing Tories who believe that using lottery money to rebuild local libraries is stealing celebrating with them will leave many residents confused.'

Fellow Pollards Hill Councillor Martin Whelton added:

'Should the Tories win the next election and have their way, there must be fears that the lottery money being spent on the library will be stopped. We'll be inviting Merton Tories and Mayor Boris to tell the Conservative Party that the new library is a good thing and cuts like this would be wrong'

1. Conservative Party policy announced in February 2008 is that lottery money should not be spent on libraries: http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_stories/2008/02/Reforming_the_National_Lottery.aspx The announcement was covered in media reports: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-512984/Lottery-billions-used-Labour-projects-funded-taxes.htmlThis remains Conservative Party policy: http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Culture_Media_and_Sport.aspx

2. Mayor Boris Johnson will open the library at lunchtime while a celebration for residents, with local councillors attending, will take place in the afternoon.

1 Comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that this entire episode demonstrates just how two faced Boris Johnson and The Conservatives' are . Why Boris Johnson even bothered going to the opening of The Library is mind blowing and Two Faced if their Policies are not in favour of financing and supporting Libraries . Maybe Boris Johnson would have been better of staying at City Hall completing his work for his main employer The Telegraph and left the residence of Merton alone. It would have been more appropiate if Ken Livingston could have come to the opening as he is more passionate about what is happening in London. Maybe the entire day should have been hosted by The Mayor for Merton alone , that would have been more appropiate and respectful.

About Me

is a Labour politician and Cabinet member for Education on Merton Council. A councillor since 2002 in Pollards Hill, I have also served as the Mayor of Merton for 2008-09, and was also previously Cabinet member for Community & Culture.